I came to California not knowing what to expect but knowing that I need to be obedient to the call of making disciples among all the nations. My responsibilities include serving the Afghanistan community in Fremont. When we got here, Ramadan had just begun—the time when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Ana Escobedo (2nd from right) is serving among the Afghan community in Fremont, Calif., along with fellow team members (left to right) Isabella, Clarissa, Sarah and Amber. For me, it was hard to not have a set schedule of what to do, but the Lord showed me the truth of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Jesus has been teaching me to be still in his presence. But in the midst of the culture shock, not having a schedule, adjusting to a new city and learning to use public transportation, I forgot to be still.
During one of my quiet times the Lord said to me: “Be still, Ana, and wait for my glory. See that I am God, and I will be exalted among the nations. Rest in me.” While I continued to seek him, two verses of Scripture stood out to me. John 5:17 says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” And John 5:30 says, “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” So I was still in his presence, I prayed, and I waited.
Well, Jesus didn’t make me wait long. The next day, our supervisor texted me: “Hey Ana, I have an Afghan family who would like you to tutor her children. Are you interested?” I stared at my phone and said, “I see what you did there, Jesus!” How faithful he is. Jesus has been so constant in answering my prayers these past weeks. And this is just the beginning!
Please pray that our presence as children of God will help us plant seeds in the lives of the people we meet. Pray for people who are blinded to the truth, that the scales of their eyes will fall off and see Jesus as the true Savior of their lives. Please pray for the Afghanistan community as they have been affected with what has been going on in our nation. Finally, pray that God will be exalted among this nation.
Ana Escobedo, a student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is serving with Go Now Missions in Fremont, Calif.
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